Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by w10-1 410 days ago
Key claim: "disruption" is impossible for BigCompany. SmallCo can do it, but only if they both (1) have something technically hard to replicate, and (2) target a marketing niche that is a irremediable blind spot for BigCompany's. Since his venture now is life insurance, Geico is likely the comparable case in point.

I really think every founder (and startup worker) needs to take seriously the marketing side of the business, and not just believe that new technology will win.

(While I, too, am allergic to bitcoin scams, given increasing levels of political corruption monkeying with markets, rates, and regulation, I can also see it as an enticing alternative for those looking to get long-term investments off the dollar. For insurance, the main question is, will the money be there and be made available? Having seen even highly-regulated pensions fail (without federal insurance recourse in the case of religious hospital behemoths), I can see how technical guarantees independent of regulation or law could be compelling.)